Thermoplastic applicator exhibiting accelerated breakup when immersed in water
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorsDonald G. Fox, Daniel J. Heuer, Frederick M. Guenther
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermoplastic applicator is disclosed which exhibits accelerated breakup when immersed in water. The applicator includes a hollow, cylindrically shaped member which holds a pledget. This cylindrically shaped member is constructed of a water-soluble or water-dispersible material and has a wall with a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches (about 12.7 mm). A plurality of grooves are formed in the wail in a predetermined pattern to accelerate breakup of the applicator into small unrecognizable pieces, The grooves have a depth of between about 5 percent to 75 percent of the thickness of the wall. The deeper the grooves, the shorter the time period needed to breakup the applicator.
Claims22
An applicator comprising:
- a) a first member designed to hold a pledget, said member being constructed of a thermoplastic, water-dispersible material and having a thin wall, said member having an inner and an outer periphery;
- and
- b) a plurality of grooves formed in said wall which enables said wall to breakup into smaller segments when said applicator is immersed in water, said grooves having a depth of between about 5%-75% of said wall thickness.
A tampon applicator comprising:
- a) a hollow, cylindrically shaped member designed to hold a tampon which is constructed of a thermoplastic, water-dispersible material, said member having a wall with a thickness of less than 0.05 inches, and said member having an inner and an outer periphery;
- and
- b) a plurality of grooves formed in said wall which enables said wall to breakup into small segments when said member is immersed in water, said grooves having a depth of between about 5%-75% of said wall thickness, and said grooves forming a pattern wherein a plurality of said grooves joins up with at least one other groove approximately every 0.5 inches.
A tampon applicator comprising:
- a) a hollow, cylindrically shaped member constructed of a thermoplastic, water-dispersible material which is capable of holding a pledget, said member having an expulsion end which contains a plurality of petals and an opposite end which contains a finger grip, said petals capable of radially flexing outward to enable said pledget to be expelled from said member, and said member having a wall with a thickness intermediate said ends of less than about 0.05 inches;
- b) a plunger telescopically mounted in said cylindrically shaped member, said plunger adapted to expel said pledget through said expulsion end;
- and
- c) a plurality of grooves formed in said wall of said cylindrically shaped member intermediate said ends, said grooves enabling said wall to breakup into smaller segments when said applicator is immersed in water, said grooves having a depth of between about 5%-75% of said wall thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.